A priest in central Peterborough has pleaded to the council for 45 minutes extra free parking so church-goers can attend Saturday mass without fear of being fined. The appeal came after six worshippers were given parking tickets around St Peter and All Souls' Roman Catholic Church in Geneva Street, Peterborough in the last two weeks.
Parish priest Father David Jennings said he believed the council changed the free parking start time from 6pm to 6.30pm without informing people a fortnight ago, although the council claims it has always been 6.30pm.
He is now calling on council chiefs for free parking from 5.45pm to be fair to parishioners as well as clubbers, who traditionally do not park there until later.
In his newsletter, he said: "It seems ludicrous to move the paid-for parking time to 6.30pm when shops and most people have departed the city centre by 5.30pm. Are only nightclubs to benefit from free parking?"
Father David has spoken to the council and he said he was confident they could come to a resolution.
He said: "I believe that the council changed the parking on Saturdays around the church without telling us. Everyone presumed it was still free from 6pm and carried on parking. Because of this, six parishioners have received parking tickets in two weeks.
"I'm talking with the council and they understand the problem and are trying to resolve it."
He added: "I would like it if free parking was moved back to 5.45pm, otherwise the only beneficiaries of the scheme would be nightclubbers."
Paul Phillipson, executive director of operations at Peterborough City Council, said: "I have been talking to Father Jennings on this matter and I will be reviewing the situation of parking in the area outside St Peter and All Souls' Church."
In 2006, church-goers at St Peter and All Souls' drew up an 850-strong petition calling on the council to agree a one-hour extension on the streets next to the church so people could attend Sunday mass without being fined.
Parking on nearby streets was free on Sundays only until 11am but services often ran until 11.30am or later.
After this, the council changed the rules so parking on Sunday is now free until 12.30pm.
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